WORCESTERSHIRE Royals face a potential Norwich Union League Division One title decider against Glamorgan Dragons at Cardiff tomorrow after Graeme Hick led them to a vital three-wicket win over Kent Spitfires at New Road yesterday.

Skipper Hick hit 77 not out to help the County to regain top spot from Glamorgan who are also in action today against Yorkshire Phoenix at Headingley.

With Steve Rhodes (thigh) and Matt Mason (hand) facing fitness tests, Worcestershire have yet to finalise their side to play under the Cardiff floodlights, but Director of Cricket Tom Moody is expecting a battle after yesterday's exciting win.

Moody also praised Hick and Ben Smith whose 94-run stand helped the County beat Kent with five balls to spare.

He said: "It was a tight game. The difference between us winning the game and not winning was the Hick-Smith partnership in the middle. It was totally polished and professional. It was exactly what we asked for and they delivered.

"Hicky was the finisher. Ben has done it so often for us this season but Hicky set his stall out to be the one at the end."

Worcestershire, needing 214 to win, had cause for concern when paceman Martin Saggers claimed the first three wickets for a personal cost of 31, including Vikram Solanki for 46 which contained ten fours off 38 balls.

Hick and Smith, however, steadily began to help the County regain control.

Smith, who made 46, eventually became another Saggers victim leaving the County facing a nervous spell when they lost Stephen Peters, David Leatherdale and Gareth Batty cheaply.

Kabir Ali, however, was able to see off Kent together with Hick who notched five fours off 93 balls. Along the way he topped 8,000 league runs in his career. Only Kim Barnett (9,002) and Graham Gooch (8,573) have scored more.

The County's crucial win was their reward for pegging Kent back after they had got their innings off to a cracking start through Matthew Fleming and Robert Key.

They put on 101 in 18 overs before four run-outs contributed to the Spitfires being restricted to 213-8. Fleming, in particular, was in hard-hitting form hammering 12 fours off 60 balls in a seasonal-best 68.